Microsoft officially launches Windows 10 in 190 countries. Microsoft Corporation announced that Windows 10 will become available Wednesday as a free upgrade or with new PCs and tablets. Windows 10 includes innovations such as Cortana, an Xbox app and Microsoft Edge for a familiar, yet more personal and productive, experience. The most secure Windows ever, Windows 10 is delivered as a service and kept automatically up-to-date with innovations and security updates. Windows 10 offers one experience that will become available on the broadest range of devices, including PCs, tablets, phones, Raspberry Pi, Xbox One, HoloLens and more - with more than 2,000 devices or configurations already in testing. The new Windows Store and Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) also become available Wednesday, opening the door to new and innovative app experiences on Windows 10.

Microsoft officially launches Windows 10 in 190 countries

Microsoft first unveiled Windows 10 in September and outlined their plans for a new era of Windows. Microsoft's vision was one platform, one store, and one experience that extends across the broadest range of devices from the smallest screens to the largest screens to no screens at all.

For Microsoft, Windows 10 begins to deliver on their vision for more personal computing. From the beginning, Windows 10 has been unique - built with feedback from five million Windows Insiders, delivered as a service with ongoing innovations and security updates, and offered as a free upgrade to genuine Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 customers.

Windows 10: The Best Windows Ever
1) First and foremost, Microsoft made Windows 10 fast and familiar:
+ With the familiar Start menu, Taskbar, and Desktop you're already an expert and Live Tiles provide streaming updates of what matters most to you, instantly.
+ Windows 10 is designed to be compatible with the hardware, software and peripherals you already own.
+ Free updates help keep you current on features and security updates.
+ With OneDrive online storage, you can easily share and keep your files up to date across all your devices, simply.

2) In a world of cyber threats, Windows 10 is the most secure Windows ever:
+ Offering enhanced Windows Defender and Smart Screen to help safeguard against viruses, malware and phishing.

Windows Hello

+ Windows Hello greets you by name, providing a fast, secured, password-free way to log in.

3) Windows 10 is more personal and more productive:
+ Voice, Pen and Gesture input allow you to more naturally interact with your PC.
+ Windows 10 is designed to run Office and Skype perfectly to increase your productivity. New Office Mobile apps on Windows 10 - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote - are available today in the Windows Store. Built for on-the-go scenarios, the Office Mobile apps offer a consistent, touch-first experience for small tablets. Full featured OneNote comes installed with Windows 10 for your digital note-taking needs. The upcoming release of Office desktop apps (Office 2016) will offer the richest feature set for professional content creation, designed for the precision of a keyboard and mouse.

Cortana

+ Cortana is your personal digital assistant making it easy to find the right information at the right time.
+ You can easily switch between apps and stay organized with Snap and Task View.
+ Continuum optimizes your apps and experience beautifully across touch and desktop modes.

4) Finally, only Windows 10 can offer innovative experiences and new devices:

Microsoft Edge

+ New Microsoft Edge browser allows you to quickly browse, read, and even mark up and share the web.
+ The integrated Xbox App delivers the Xbox experience to Windows 10, bringing together your friends, games, and accomplishments across Xbox One and Windows 10 devices.
+ The Companion Phone app lets you set up your iPhone, Android or Windows phone to work seamlessly with your Windows device.
+ Windows powers the most innovative devices today and tomorrow - from phones to tablets to PCs to HoloLens.
+ Built-in apps including Photos, Maps, Microsoft's new music app Groove, and Movies & TV, offer entertainment and productivity options.

Windows Store

Windows Store
The new Windows Store opens today and is now accepting new apps for Windows 10. The Windows Store offers one-stop shopping for popular free and paid apps, games, movies, TV shows and the latest music, which work across all Windows 10 devices. The new Windows Store is the only Store where you can use Cortana to control apps with your voice and get real-time notifications on your app tiles. All Windows Store content is certified by Microsoft to help keep your devices safer. In addition to existing Windows 8.1 apps such as Netflix, Flipboard, Mint.com, Asphalt 8: Airborne and The Weather Channel, the Windows Store provides a constant stream of new and updated Universal Windows Apps and games, including Twitter, "Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta", Hulu, iHeartRadio, USA Today, Candy Crush Saga, and others including WeChat and QQ, which will launch soon. Check out our new Windows Store today.

Upgrading to Windows 10
Upgrading to Windows 10 is easy if you have a genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 PC or tablet. Starting today, a new notification on your taskbar will alert you when your upgrade is ready to be installed. For business customers, Windows 10 is available to start deploying within your work environments and starting August 1, organizations who have volume licensing can upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education. Windows 10 IoT is also available today.

If you're a Windows Insider and running build 10240 - you already have the Windows 10 we are making available today. All you need to do is check Windows Update and make sure you have all the final updates. If you didn't upgrade to the latest build as a Windows Insider, you can upgrade here. The Windows Insider Program will continue, and Microsoft will have more details to share soon about the next wave of the program.

Devices from Microsoft's partners Lenovo, HP, Dell and Acer with Windows 10 pre-loaded are available for purchase today from retailers globally. Many more devices will follow in the coming weeks from a broad range of partners including new devices designed specifically for Windows 10 features like Windows Hello. Microsoft's OEM partners have over 2,000 distinct devices or configurations already in testing for Windows 10 upgrades, as well as hundreds of new hardware designs. By this holiday, we will be selling the widest range of Windows hardware ever available.